Serving Jesus in Our Community

Bible Notes

Matthew 6:5-6 (02.10.18)

Matthew 6:5-6 (NIV)
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen…

Yesterday we thought about the hypocrites who appeared to be praying to God but actually were praying for others, that they might win their admiration. Having questioned their motivation for prayer, and through that ours, he provides an alternative. Prayer is for an audience of one, our Father. Rather than praying for the sake of those who see us, we pray unseen to the one who is unseen. His listening and speaking, conversation with him, is all that counts, all that truly matters. Of course, such secret prayer frees us to be ourselves in prayer and to be honest in prayer, knowing that the only audience is one who knows us completely already, and call us his child.

Close the door, turn off the TV/radio/computer, shut your eyes,
Father…

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